[News] It's Official - NHL Players will be in Sochi

[Locke]

And the spirit of the Olympics takes another one for the team.

And by 'team' I mean 'everyone who makes money off the Olympics.'

Ah well, I cant complain, if it wasnt NHLers I wouldnt even watch.

[MissTeeks]

EJ Hradek‏@EJHradek_NHL3m
Hearing that each country will be allowed to bring extra players (3-5) to Sochi because of travel & scheduling considerations. Good idea.

[indes]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

EJ Hradek‏@EJHradek_NHL3m
Hearing that each country will be allowed to bring extra players (3-5) to Sochi because of travel & scheduling considerations. Good idea.

Sooo can we plan on a few players going "missing" for the duration of the olympics?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by indes

Sooo can we plan on a few players going "missing" for the duration of the olympics?

"No, no, no, no, no......this is not 'Sidney Crosby' playing for Metallurg.....is eastern European cousin.....uhh, 'Yuri Crosby.'

No, no, no, we dont know what happened to Sidney, timing was suspicious, yes."

[Inglewood Jack]

normally I don't cheer super hard for Team Canada cause sometimes we get this entitled, predestined attitude about the superiority of our talent and "owning" the game. but this time, with the KHL puffing its chest out and trying to buy its way to the next level of competition, I kind of want our NHL boys to lay the curb stomping down. like, I want a House Lannister wiping House Reyne off the face of Westeros style beating, such that they will write songs about it and there will no longer be any dispute where the greatest players in the world play.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I'm likely in the minority, but I am was kind of interested to see the tournament go back to amateurs. Of course, with the KHL and other European leagues still committed, I guess the NHL might as well too.

Victorian era sensibilities should have died a century ago with Queen Victoria.

The Olympics are meant to be the pinnacle of sport. Disallowing the top players of the game from participation cheapens the entire thing.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

normally I don't cheer super hard for Team Canada cause sometimes we get this entitled, predestined attitude about the superiority of our talent and "owning" the game. but this time, with the KHL puffing its chest out and trying to buy its way to the next level of competition, I kind of want our NHL boys to lay the curb stomping down. like, I want a House Lannister wiping House Reyne off the face of Westeros style beating, such that they will write songs about it and there will no longer be any dispute where the greatest players in the world play.

Yeah, smug Russian #######s.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The Olympics are meant to be the pinnacle of sport. Disallowing the top players of the game from participation cheapens the entire thing.

Bit OT, but are "amateur" requirements applied the same across all the sports, both winter and summer?

[tempz]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Bit OT, but are "amateur" requirements applied the same across all the sports, both winter and summer?

All of the major ones but Boxing and Golf I believe now let professionals.

Edit: I thought Golf was going amateur but looks like its pros too.

[Phanuthier]

Any chance Chris Butler makes Team USA?

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Any chance Chris Butler makes Team USA?

For Canada's sake, let's hope so.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by tempz

All of the major ones but Boxing and Golf I believe now let professionals.

Edit: I thought Golf was going amateur but looks like its pros too.

Golf definitely wants Tiger Woods in Rio 2016.

yeah Boxing might be the only one everything else is professional.
Can think of any others.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Any chance Chris Butler makes Team USA?

[calumniate]

Hey Kipper come play some Olympics!

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Any chance Chris Butler makes Team USA?

Maybe if they need someone to cut oranges at intermission and open the box for line changes

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Bit OT, but are "amateur" requirements applied the same across all the sports, both winter and summer?

Boxing is pretty much the only one left. I believe soccer has some idiotic setup where all players have to be 23 or under or something like that.

And the truth about hockey is that pros have been in the Olympics and World Championships since the 1950s. It took an outright Canadian boycott of international hockey for the IIHF to stop pretending otherwise.

[Cwolf]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Bit OT, but are "amateur" requirements applied the same across all the sports, both winter and summer?

No... Maybe only boxing.

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Golf definitely wants Tiger Woods in Rio 2016.

yeah Boxing might be the only one everything else is professional.
Can think of any others.

Football, to a degree. Only under 22 year olds are allowed to play and one professional player over 22 if I remember correctly.

[Buck Murdock]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I'm likely in the minority, but I am was kind of interested to see the tournament go back to amateurs. Of course, with the KHL and other European leagues still committed, I guess the NHL might as well too.

I agree, I think this will be the last Olympics for the NHL. It was cool when they stayed in the village with the other athletes and tried to blend in, but now its full on rock star treatment.